19 – 20 July 2023
Truly, truly, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his LORD; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
In John 13:16 above, the LORD speaks to His disciples (students) after washing their feet. As we have long understood, washing the feet of others isn’t an outward display of how humble we are, but rather a spiritual exercising (working out) of corruption picked up during our pilgrimage through the age and generations. It is the LORD with His word, pure waters of heaven, teaching truth and thereby clearing our minds of false teaching of the past that stuck.
This aspect of the sins of the past affecting later generations is what the LORD speaks of in Jeremiah 31, saying in verses 29 & 30, “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eat the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge [the children shall no longer suffer judgment because of the deeds of those before them, but every man will be judged for his own words].”
In Jeremiah, the LORD follows this by telling of the new covenant, after men taught (the sour grapes) who He is, blinding the later generation (setting the children’s teeth on edge) so none knew or saw Him.
Jeremiah 31
31 Behold, the days [have now] come, says the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, says the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Isaiah 29
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry you out, and cry: they [the crown of pride] are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 For the LORD has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has he covered [in the darkness of their own ignorance].
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he says, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he says, I am not learned.
13 Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous [eye opening] work among this people, even a marvelous [eye opening] work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid [from them and those they teach].
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark [among the ignorant], and they [because all are ignorant] say, Who sees us? and who knows us?
16 Surely your [these men] turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay [to be formed by the potter’s work]: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
Isaiah 54
5 For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name [a man of war is His identity]; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6 For the LORD has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were refused, says your God.
7 For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face [presence] from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you [in this conversation opening the eyes of your understanding], says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you.
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills [all the governments of the earth] be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace [shalowm] be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you.
11 O you afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with fair colors [in the rainbow in the cloud, rightly dividing the light in the firmament, as I covenanted with Noah and all the people of the earth], and [in this new nation] lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones.
13 And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace [shalowm] of your children.
14 In righteousness shall you be established: you shall be far from oppression; for you shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake.
16 Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD.
John 13
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He rises from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then comes he to Simon Peter: and Peter says unto him, LORD, do you wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter [I wash away what corrupts and blinds your minds].
8 Peter says unto him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you have no part with me.
9 Simon Peter says unto him, LORD, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus says to him, He that is washed [by receiving my words] need not save to wash his feet [exercise out of your mind the old corruption, false teaching that keeps you from fully understanding], but is clean every whit: and you are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, You are not all clean [some refusing to leave their corruption behind].
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know you what I have done to you?
13 You call me Master and LORD: and you say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your LORD and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his LORD; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If you know these things, happy are you if you [obey and] do them.
18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture [Psalms 41:9] may be fulfilled, He that eats bread [this teaching] with me has lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it comes, that, when it is come to pass, you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that receives whomsoever I send [the Paraclete in whom I Am unknown until he leads you into full understanding] receives me; and he that receives me receives him that sent me.
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Truly, truly, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
The word “heel” in Psalms 41:9 is the five times used Hebrew word ‘aqeb, said to mean “a heel (as protuberant); hence, a track; figuratively, the rear (of an army).” It is speaking of the tracks left as the foot became dirty.
Psalms 41
A Psalm of David
1 Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and you will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: you will make all his bed in his sickness.
4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against you.
5 My enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 And if he comes to see me, he speaks vanity: his heart gathers iniquity to itself; when he goes abroad, he tells it.
7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8 An evil disease, say they, cleaves fast unto him: and now that he lies [down] he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, my own familiar friend [shalowm], in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread [this word God provided], has lifted up his heel [‘aqeb – left the tracks that dirtied my people’s feet] against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know that you favor me, because my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 And as for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me before your face [paniym – in Your presence] forever [‘owlam].
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting [‘owlam], and to everlasting [‘owlam]. Amen, and Amen.
The words the LORD uses in Matthew 13:18, quoting Psalms 4:8, describing the betrayers among the leaders of God’s people (Judah), are as follows “He [my friend with whom I was at peace] that eats [trogo] bread [artos – this teaching] with me has lifted [epairo] up his heel [pterna – “paternal,” the things received from the fathers] against [epi] me.”
The word trogo (used only six times) spiritually means to be led (ago – as in tragos: he-goat {as the flock following him to pasture}) in worn tracks (tribos).
The idea in bread is it’s water mixed with wheat (the word mixed with God’s people), and when leaven (explanation – exposition) is added, it rises.
The word epairo, means to raise up, as (in pride) to exalt (self and words, here against the LORD, by the dirt, earthly corruption, added, keeping His people from rising).
1 Corinthians 10
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank [mixing water with the wheat] of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends [ending the old and beginning the new] of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 There has no temptation [to doubt the LORD is with us] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry [following men who put themselves in God’s place].
15 I speak as to wise men; judge you what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ [His life poured out into us]? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the [ONE] body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles [those who don’t know the LORD] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils [misleaders, he-goats leading to feed on earthly corruption], and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the LORD, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the LORD’s table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the LORD to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
2 Corinthians 10
1 Now I [Timothy] myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts [epairo] itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do you look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the LORD has given us for edification [building His habitation], and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule [canon – the standard of measure] which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach [come unto] even unto you [so you will understand it is the LORD’s arrival].
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you [not telling you it is our arrival]: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ [revealing the LORD alive in us]:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule [by the LORD’s standard] abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
17 But he that glories, let him glory in the LORD. [quoted from Jeremiah 9:24]
18 For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the LORD commends.
Jeremiah 9
12 Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, that he may declare it: for what the land perishes and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passes through?
13 And the LORD says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
17 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Consider you, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O you women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation.
21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
22 Speak, Thus says the LORD, Even the carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
23 Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD.
This last verse is given context in earlier verses saying:
6 Your habitation is in the midst of [a nation of] deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, says the LORD.
7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart [in his evil mind] he lays his wait [to set traps for the innocent, so this evil people, this wicked nation, can attack them with false accusation and consume them with corrupt judgment].
9 Shall I not visit them [as the Chief Overseer, the judge of the earth] for these things? says the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
So, the question is How long will you refuse to hear [shama’ – obey] and open your mouths? As you watch from afar, will you keep silent until only very few are left? What is wrong with you? If you by this realize anything, it should be that you don’t know the LORD, because if you did, you would obey. And not understanding or knowing Him is death in which you sleep.
Jeremiah 13
7 Then I went to Euphrates [this word of God from which flows the blessing: the way of peace and prosperity], and digged, and took the girdle [the preparation therein] from the place where [in my written word] I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred [by the dirt, of men’s earthly corruption], it was profitable for nothing.
8 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 Thus says the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 This evil people, which refuse to hear [shama’ – obey] my words [that refuse to remove the corruption], which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods [listening to men who’ve put themselves in My place], to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle [they are the worthlessness, the dirt, that corrupts], which is good for nothing.
11 For as the girdle cleaves to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear [shama’ – obey].
12 Therefore you shall speak unto them this word; Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine [that will change their mind and make them incomprehensible and ineffective]?
13 Then shall you say unto them, Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.
15 Hear you, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD has spoken.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains [the evil possessed government], and, while you look for light [to them for understand: the evil men in power, whose voices have made you drunk, so they can devour you], he turn it [their word have turned] into the shadow of death, and make it [they are] gross darkness.
17 But if you will not hear [shama’ – obey] sit, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.
18 Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah [even the elect remnant] shall be [has been] carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.
20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north [out of darkness]: where is the [awakened] flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say [should they be opening their mouth to declare this] when he shall punish you [when he comes unknown, as Chief Overseer with good judgment, to the ignorant in the night when they sleep]? for you have taught them [the wicked who’ve led you into darkness] to be captains, and [wicked overseer with evil judgment] as chief over you: shall not sorrows take you, as a woman in travail [who must bring forth the man, from the child who’s put away childish things of ignorance of God’s presence with us]?
22 And if you say in your heart, Wherefore, come these things upon me? For the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts discovered, and your heels [‘aqeb – the tracks that have corrupted your ways] made bare [but yet you refuse to wash them away from others as I have washed them away from you].
23 Can the Ethiopian [covered in darkness] change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [Can a man be changed into a woman? Only by accepting delusions,] then may you also do good [only by insanely calling your evil good], that are accustomed to do evil.
24 Therefore will [have] I scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness [by their lies and false teaching that have caused this desolation].
25 This is your lot [the judgment that has come upon this nation], the portion of your measures [meted out] from me, says the LORD; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
26 Therefore will I discover your skirts upon your face, that your shame may appear.
27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your whoredom, and your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto you, O Jerusalem [O desolate people and nation]! will you not be made clean [wash the dirt, the earthy corruption, away]? when shall it once be?
The first use of the word ‘aqeb is in Genesis 3:15 as we are told who it is that slithers in the dirt, the dust of the earth’s ruin, the serpent whose head man (Christ) will bruise, after he (the devil) bruise man’s heal with his dirt, to corrupt God’s pure word, and temp man into doubting God’s presence (as he tempted Christ who overcame him and the world).
Genesis 3
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat [of his twisted and false interpretation of what God said – the first act of evil misleading man on the path away from God’s good, a path whose well-worn tracks are now made bare].
14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon your belly shall you go, and dust [the dirt of the earth] shall you eat [shall always be in your mouth] all the days of your life:
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman [as it is between the wicked and God’s people this day in this now dead and decaying nation], and between your seed and her seed; it [Christ, the seed] shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel [‘aqeb].
The word rendered “bruise” is the four times used word shuwph, meaning “to gape, i.e. snap at; figuratively, to overwhelm:–break, bruise, cover.” In the above first two uses of shuwph, it tells of Satan, the serpent, with a gaping, open mouth, bruising the heel of man, the tracks in the dirt we’ve now traced to their end, when humanity, man in Christ’s ONE BODY, with open mouth bruises the devil’s (the he-goat misleading the flock) head.
The next use of the word shuwph, in Job 9:17, comes as Job answers one of his accusers, recorded in the previous chapter.
Job 8
8 For enquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing [only what we see in our time, not knowing its beginning when it was pure], because our days upon earth are a shadow [blocked from the original light]:)
10 Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart [what they have added along the way]?
11 Can the rush grow [growing among corruption] up without [absorbing] mire [dirt mixed with water]? can the flag grow without water [can any grow up without being taught the words of men before them]?
12 While it [water] is yet [remain in pure form in those who receive it] in his greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb.
13 So are the paths [‘orach – referring us to it in Genesis 49:17] of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s [chaneph – soiled: dirty] hope [the corrupt understanding of the expected end] shall perish: [Genesis 49:17 Dan {God’s judgment} shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path {‘orach}, that bited {the sting that bruise} the horse {the strength, understanding that carries them} heels {‘aqeb – the track, the dirt that remains}, so that his rider shall fall backward {‘achowr – return to purity in these last days}. 18 (I have waited for your salvation, O LORD.) 19 Gad {the LORD gathered army}, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last {‘aqeb}.]
14 Whose [the hypocrite’s] hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web [that a man’s hand swipes away in the darkness].
15 He shall lean upon [trust] his house [built upon sand], but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast [to his corrupt and refuse to obey the LORD], but it shall not endure [quwm – not rise].
16 He [whose path is pure] is green [sprouting new life from the earth] before the sun [in the presence of the light: understanding of the new day], and his branch shoots forth in his garden [the place protected by understanding].
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap [of good ground], and sees the place of stones [where there is no root and nothing grows].
18 If he destroy him from his place [maqowm – ma’ quwm, what rising; from the sun rising], then it [light] shall deny [be denied to] him, saying, I have not seen you.
19 Behold, this is the joy [the LORD rising as light in His people] of his way, and out of the earth [replacing those in whom light is destroyed] shall others grow [with understanding].
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man [who receives His light and give it as received], neither will he help the evil doers [who destroyed and now attempt to destroy the light]:
21 Till he fill your mouth [of those he perfects] with laughing, and your lips [when your mouths are opened] with rejoicing.
22 They that hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to naught.
Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened [refuses to be corrected] himself against him [the LORD], and has prospered?
5 Which removes the mountains [the high place of the earth], and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
6 Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Which commands the sun [the light and the new day], and it rises not; and seals up the stars [bringing upon them a deep sleep, in which they have no understanding].
8 Which alone spreads out the heavens [in the exposition in the firmament], and treads upon the [proud] waves of the sea [foaming out their shame among the people at large].
9 Which make Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he [among us] goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away [ignorance], who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers [like Hananiah] do stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 For he breaks [shuwph – bruises our heel] me with a tempest [the storm in which humanity is cast, as was Jonah, caused by the open mouths of men], and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul [my identity as immortal]: I would despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I [ignorantly] said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is [now] given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces [presence] of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he [because there no good judgment apparent in power]?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships [crooked institution]: as the eagle that hastes to the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labor I in vain?
30 If I wash myself [from the dirt] with [pure] snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch [filled with dirt], and my own clothes [the flesh garment dirtied] shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman [mediator] betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
These last verses speak of the crux of the matter: Job, without a mediator, refusing correction he calls wrath, barters with the LORD for what he wants before he obeys and speaks.
Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line upon it [have you assessed it and brought it to light]?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner [pinnah – the head, master, the builders refused] stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars [sprang to light and] sang together [opened their mouths as the LORD commanded], and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud [the place where understanding was kept] the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it [and ignorance its protective wrapping],
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves [the pride of man] be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends [of the old and beginning the new] of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal [chowtham – My signature pressed into the earth]; and they stand as a garment [as on the mountain, seen as the shining garments of light].
15 And from the wicked their light [understanding] is withheld, and the high arm [the evil works of those in power, devils now misleading the world in hell] shall be broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth [the deep thing only the Father knows]?
17 Have the gates of death [hell] been opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwell? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail, [these speaks of God’s word frozen {reserved} in heaven, for this moment]
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble [tsar – of the enemies pressing evil upon us], against the day of battle and war?
Psalms 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me, and known me.
2 You know my downsitting and my uprising, you understand my thought afar off [rachowq – when the decrees of evil cover the earth in darkness].
3 You compasses my path [the way into darkness] and my lying down [sleeping in death], and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from your spirit? or whither shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness [ignorance] shall cover [shuwph – bruise] me; even the night shall be light [be understood] about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 For you have possessed my reins: you have covered [with darkness as a protective wrapping] me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous [eye opening] are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
15 My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts [from the dirt of the ruin] of the earth.
16 Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you.
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me, therefore, you bloody men.
20 For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
